Isador Nicholas Yudell
1939-45 Star, Africa Star
Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-1945 War Medal
1st Manitoba Mounted Rifles
Royal Canadian Air Force
104 Squadron (Royal Air Force)
WW II
Isador Nicholas (Nick) Yudell was born 06 June 1916 in Winnipeg. He was the youngest of three children born to Russian immigrants Alexander Yudluvitz (later Yudell) and Nettie Kluner. Nick had a brother Milton and a sister Mary. As a Jewish boy of 12, Alexander was conscripted by the czar’s army. Both the Yudluvitz and Kluner families emigrated to escape the pogroms, organized attacks on Jews that occurred in Russia. Alexander travelled first to Cuba and then New York. He and Nettie married there in 1903 and they settled in Winnipeg around 1905.
After Nicks mother Nettie died in 1918, his father Alex took Nick to live with Nettie’s sister Sonia and her husband David Rabinovitch in Morden. Nick became the youngest in a family of nine children. Moving between Morden and Winnipeg, Nick pursued photography when he received a camera at the age of 12 in 1928 and this continued to be a serious hobby to him until
he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). While attending St. John’s College in Winnipeg (1931 – 1933), Nick captured images that offer a sparkling prism of his life. His black and white photographs span the Jazz Age and the Great Depression bridging the 1920’s through the 1930’s, reflecting the life around him in rural Manitoba.
Nick worked for his cousin Milton at Rabinovitch Bros, a men’s clothing and shoe store, in Morden from 1935 until joining the RCAF in 1941. In October of 1938 Nick requested information on enlisting as a pilot in the RAF, he was told to apply in 1940. On 05 August 1940 he applied to the RCAF and was put on the Special Reserve list. While waiting for the RCAF to call Nick joined the 1st Manitoba Mounted Rifles of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada (NPAM) on 01 August 1940 with the understanding that, should the RCAF call, he would be immediately released from the NPAM. He attained the rank of Lance Corporal and received Armoured Car training and was released from the Militia 03 February 1941 when called up by the air force.
Air Craftsman 2nd Class (AC2) Yudell reported to the Brandon Manning Depot 13 February 1941 to begin his training in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan as a pilot. He received the majority of his training in western Canada and completed the pilot training, receiving his Flying Badge (Wings) and a promotion to Sergeant (Sgt), 13 September 1941. Sgt Yudell was sent to England and commenced flying training with the Royal Air Force 19 October 1941 eventually ending up with 104 Squadron (Sqn) of the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was promoted to Flight Sergeant (FSgt) 01 July 1942.
104 Sqn was a bomber unit, flying Wellingtons, and were operating from RAF Luqa on Malta. On the night of 06 January 1943 a Wellington Bomber #504 took off from the Luqa aerodrome with 7 other aircraft from 104 Sqn. The following is from squadron report, “These aircraft were engaged in the bombing of Docks and Shipping at Tunis. Owing to the bad weather over the target they proceeded to Sousse. Two aircraft of the Squadron reported an explosion at 7,000 feet over Sousse at approximately 2130 hours. Bursts of Heavy A.A. were also seen at the same time. Immediately after three aircraft saw an aircraft on fire on the ground 3-5 miles S.S.W. of Sousse. The aircraft #504 failed to return to the base.” FSgt Yudell was the second pilot in a crew of 6, none survived.
Records of Service indicate FSgt Yudell was promoted to Temporary Warrant Officer Class II (WO II) on 13 September 1942. No other reference to this was made in his records until 24 September 1952 when the R.C.A.F. Casualties Officer referred to him as WO II Yudell. The purpose of the letter was to advise his brother Milton that Warrant Officer Class II Isador Nicholas Yudell “does not have a known grave”. He is listed on the Commonwealth War Graves Malta Memorial, Panel 11, Column 1. He is also commemorated on Page 229 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance in Ottawa and on the War Memorial in Morden. He was honoured by the province of Manitoba which named Lake Yudell, located at 58 degrees 30 minutes 1 second north Latitude and 97 degrees 50 minutes 28 seconds west Longitude, for him in 1970.
Information supplied by family and from Library Archives Canada.